Former Liverpool and England star Paul Ince has said the Reds remain the team to beat in the Premier League this season as long as one thing goes their way, speaking to Matchday Live on Optus Sport.
The Reds dominated the league last term and were deserved winners. But, if they can retain their title, it will be even more impressive.
Liverpool will be without Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez for a large part of this season, if not all of it. The Reds also have concerns in other areas of the pitch with Thiago and Trent Alexander-Arnold both struggling with fitness.
However, Ince believes Liverpool are still favourites to win the Premier League this term as long as they can keep their front three and Diogo Jota fit for the rest of the season.
He said: “We know Van Dijk is the big one, out for the rest of the season. My thing is, if they can keep those top three or four now with Jota, that gives them a different dimension. They’re the ones they need to keep fit.
“Anything around that they can kind of get away with, whether it is Matip, Fabinho can play in those centre-half roles, they are covered in all those positions. It is just the fact if they lose any of those top three, especially Mane because I think he is outstanding. I think they’re the team to beat this year.”
Retaining the Premier League will be difficult but not impossible. Liverpool were brilliant against Leicester City a week ago and are more than capable of reproducing similar performances.
Mo Salah and Mane have been key in Liverpool’s success during the past two years. Roberto Firmino is the integral link between them, while Jota has arguably been the best signing of the summer having scored nine goals in eight starts.
If the front four keep firing, Liverpool will be favourites to retain their crown. However, an injury to one or two up front could seriously damage their hopes of a second Premier League title.
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